Forest Wisdom

Norwegians have a saying, “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!” which translates to “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes!” In Scandinavia, where weather can be notoriously changeable and can get quite cold, the locals still enjoy making the most of the outdoors, regardless of the weather. There is a general sense that the weather, like most things in life, is as bad as you make it to be. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Finland, Norway and Denmark are ranked top in the list of the happiest countries in the world. So when the weather has you stuck indoors, consider how a change in mindset…

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While catching up on my landscaping today I had a surprise encounter with some poison ivy. I think I will be ok since I treated the contact area quickly but time will tell! During forest therapy walks I make a habit of pointing these plants out when I see them, but some locations are better than others for finding them. To help, I wanted to share a website I stumbled across recently with a great write-up on how to identify these plants: https://gardenerdy.com/how-to-identify-poison-oak-poison-ivy-poison-sumac-plants

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During a forest therapy walk, your guide will periodically invite you to consider or try something. Sometimes it may be a quest to find a leaf or tree that resonates with you, other times it may be to become aware of movement as you walk – the options are endless! These invitations do not actually come from the guide but from the forest. I don’t mean this in a necessarily esoteric way, just that the guide will intuit the invitation that a specific location seems to call for with those particular participants. Thus every walk is unique. Invitations are designed to help open participants to the forest therapy experience through…

You don’t need too much to have a great walk, but a few essentials packed in a knapsack or small backpack can make all the difference. Dress appropriately for the weather. You will be spending some time walking slowly and some time sitting. Usually you would be in shade, but sometimes we may make use of a field or other open space. Wearing layers is a good way to be flexible for times when, for example, you may get chilly when sitting and warm when walking. You may get dirty so dress like you would for a hike – decent shoes and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. If you…

The loop we will be using begins and ends on Secor Street in Cold Spring, a block off of Route 301. For those who are familiar with the trail system, we will be starting on the Undercliff Trail and then looping back on the Nelsonville Trail.

This loop is considered an easy trail and would take around 35-40 minutes to walk as a non-stop hike. The trail is relatively even and well maintained with some minor inclines, but some spots have loose rocks so may not be suitable for those with mobility challenges or balance concerns.

We will be walking the loop slowly with several stops for sharing and forest therapy work.

Cost is $25. If you are not able to afford the fee please come and pay what you can. If you can afford it, the fee helps support this service and allows me to be flexible with those who need the help.

I estimate the event will take 2.5 hours.

Parking and the Trail start is just past the intersection of Pearl and Secor Streets in Cold Spring near the Masonic Lodge. This location is easily walkable or a short taxi from the train station.

Part mindfulness walk and part forest therapy, this is an abbreviated version of my Forest Therapy program designed to recharge after a long day at the office.

Rain or shine.

Cost is $20. If you are not able to afford the fee please reach out to me for sliding scale options. The fee helps support this service and allows me to be flexible with those who need the help. (If you need to pay cash please contact me privately.)

If you attended one of my events in the past month please take 50% off – contact me privately to RSVP.

This is a short event – 1 to 1.5 hours. Time tends to pass quickly and I want to be mindful of your time.

(If you wear high heels, bring flats.)

We’ll meet just inside the W 103rd street entrance of Central Park. Right across the street from B/C train stop. There are bathrooms close by.

All participants must sign a simple liability waiver at the start of the event to allow us peace of mind in offering our walks to the public.

This walk will be on monastery grounds. This is not a Buddhist event, nor do we have any affiliation with the monastery, HOWEVER, please respect their preference for modest clothing (no shorts, tank tops, or overly revealing outfits) and if you pack food, keep it vegetarian.

Cost: $25 (sliding scale for those in need)

After the walk, the dining hall serves a $6 vegetarian lunch noon-1pm and visitors are welcome to explore the grounds as well as the Great Buddha Hall which is certainly a sight to see! I plan to mediate there after lunch so if you are interested in a meditation primer just ask!

All participants must sign a simple liability waiver at the start of the event to allow us peace of mind in offering our walks to the public.

This walk will be on monastery grounds. This is not a Buddhist event, nor do we have any affiliation with the monastery, HOWEVER, please respect their preference for modest clothing (no shorts, tank tops, or overly revealing outfits) and if you pack food, keep it vegetarian.

Cost: $25 (sliding scale for those in need)

After the walk, the dining hall serves a $6 vegetarian lunch noon-1pm and visitors are welcome to explore the grounds as well as the Great Buddha Hall which is certainly a sight to see! I plan to mediate there after lunch so if you are interested in a meditation primer just ask!

All participants must sign a simple liability waiver at the start of the event to allow us peace of mind in offering our walks to the public.